Motion delay mechanism and animated toy employing it



1956 J. L. BONANNO 3,264,779

MOTION DELAY MECHANISM AND ANIMATED TOY EMPLOYING IT Filed July 10, 19641N VENTOR. Jose/ H L. 501w; IVA/O Kw 4M Q dii'o United States Patent3,264,779 MOTION DELAY MECHANISM AND ANIMATED TOY EMPLGYHNG IT Joseph L.Bonarmo, South Orange, N..I., assignor to Deluxe Reading Corp,Elizabeth, Ni, :1 corporation of New Jersey Filed July 10, 1964, Ser.No. 381,714 19 Claims. (Cl. 46120) This invention relates generally tomechanisms in which a driven component is caused to move relative toanother component, and has particular reference to a motion delayingmeans for retarding the movement in a predetermined controllable manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a motiondelay device whichis simple in structural nature, inexpensive to manufacture, easilyregulated, reliably effective over long periods of usage, silent inoperation, and exceptionally staunch and rugged, and resistant even toimmersion in water.

The improved motion-delay mechanism is characterized by the employmentof a means such as a tensioned coil spring for imparting rotation,through a limited arc, to a shaft which controls the movement of thecomponent to be driven; and by recourse to a helical braking spring toimpede the shaft frictionally when the shaft is rotated in drivendirection. The convolutions of the retarding spring extend in adirection in which they automatically tighten against the shaft, oragainst a drum carried by the shaft, during its driven movements. Thusthe frictional effect can be accurately regulated whereby the drivenmovement is slowed to the desired extent,

while the return or re-setting movement can be brought about with aminimum of externally applied force.

The invention is useful for a wide range of purposes. It is particularlyapplicable to animated toys, for assuring relatively slow movement ofone part with respect to another. For example, in a doll, the movementof the head, or of one or more of the appendages, can be regulated tobring about relatively slow life-like animation. The invention willtherefore be described and illustrated as part of a doll mechanism.

In the embodiment chosen for illustration, a doll body contains amechanism which includes a pair of shafts, each of said shafts having alimited rotative movement, one of the shafts carrying the dolls head andthe other shaft carrying the arms. Mounted on each shaft is a drumencircled by two springs, one of which springs is a coiled drivingspring and the other a contractible braking spring, the arrangementbeing such that the rotation of each shaft under the torque imposed onit by its driving spring is resisted by the contractible spring to suchan extent that the movement of each of the shafts is slowed causing thearms and head to move in a slow, lifelike manner. Latches are providedby which the drive springs can be held under tension until released bymanual pressure exerted on the body of the doll, the latch releasesbeing exteriorly accessible.

One way of achieving these objects and advantages, and such otherbenefits as may be pointed out hereinafter, is exemplified in theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of ananimating mechanism constructed according -to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, with certain parts shownin section;

FIG. 3 is a face view, on a reduced scale, of the base member of theanimating mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 5 is an end View of the base member; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of the "ice body of adoll showing how the arms and head thereof are moved by means of theanimating mechanism.

The animating mechanism is shown, by way of example, housed within thebody 1 of a doll and is coupled to the head 2 and also to the arms 3 ina way which causes these parts of the doll to move slowly from oneposition to another and thus simulate the leisurely movements of aninfant. That is to say, the head of the doll can be caused to turnslowly from a forwardly-fa=cing position, as shown in full lines in FIG.6, to a side-facing position as shown at 4 in dotted lines, or viceversa. This movement, when slowly carried out by the present animatingdevice, tends to simulate the act of a baby in falling asleep during theturning of the head as above described. The animating device alsoprovides means by which the arms 3 of the doll can be slowly raisedabove the head, i.e., from the lowered retracted position shown in fulllines in FIG. 6, to the raised or extended position shown in dottedlines, or vice versa. The head movement and arm movement can be effectedsimultaneously, or operated separately, as may be desired.

The mechanism shown includes a metallic base member 10 shown in detailin FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. It has a back Wall 11, on which are formed integralside flanges 12 and 13 in which a cross shaft 14 is mounted for limitedrotative movement. The cross shaft 14 has its opposite ends extendingrespectively beyond the flanges 12 and 13, the ends of the shaft beingattached to the arms 3 of the doll. For this purpose, each arm 3, whichmay be of hollow construction and composed of a soft plastic material,may be fitted with an appropriate insert or plug 15 (shown in FIG. 2 inassociation with the neck portion 43 of the head 2 of the doll). Theplug consists of a cylindrical piece having a central hub 16 from whichspokes 17 radiate and connect to a rim 18. The ends of the cross shaft14 are force-fitted into the hub 18 and to further securely attach thearms 3 to the shaft 14, a wire ring 19 may be tightly fitted around eacharm.

Mounted on the shaft 14 is a drum 20 formed with a disk 21, said diskhaving on its periphery a plurality of hook members 22. A coil spring 23encircles one part of the drum and constitutes a snubbing or brakingdevice tending to control the rotative speed of the shaft 14, so thatupon the manual disengagement of a latch or control member to bedescribed, the regulated ro tative speed of the shaft 14 will be slowand the arms 3 borne by the shaft will be slowly raised to the positionshown in dotted lines 3 in FIG. 6.

The rotating means for the shaft 14 consists of a torsion spring 24encircling a part of the drum 20 between the disk 21 and the side flange13. This is a drive means and has one end 25 engaged with a lug 26formed at one end of the flange 13. The second end 27 of the drivingspring 24 is engaged with the disk 21 and is connected with a selectedone of the hooks on said disk to properly tension the spring 24 andcause it to rotate the shaft 14 at the desired speed.

The braking or snubbing spring'23 which encircles the inner part of thedrum 20 has one end 28 adjustably connected to a post 29 secured to thebase plate 11. This spring 23 can be adjusted to provide the necessarycontracting force around the drum 20 to frictionally slow down therotation of the shaft 14 so that the arms 3 carried by the shaft 14 willvery slowly move from their lowered to their raised position.

Tension is stored in the spring 24 by manually moving the arms 3downwardly from their raised position to the lowered position, and whenthis position is reached, a latch member or catch 30, best seen in FIG.2, will have its nose 31 engage with a recess 32 for-med in the 3 wallof the drum 23 and thus hold the. drum and shaft 14 against rotativemovement.

to bias the latch member in a direction away from the base plate so asto hold the latch member normally in the drum-engaging position shown inFIG. 2. The 'latch member 30 is pivoted at on a lug 36 formed as anintegral extension of the base plate 11.

The animating mechanism is housed within and concealed by the hollowbody ofthe doll and when a child desires to have the arms of the dollraised or elevated,

she will exert pressure on the part of the body of the doll behind thefingerpiece 30a on the latch member 30, thereby releasing the latchmember from its engagement with the slot 32, whereupon the tensioned'drive spring A coil spring 3-3 isfitted. around a lug 34 on the side ofthe base plate 11 and serves 24 will begin to rotate the shaft 14 whilethe braking Y The manner in Which the head 2 of the doll can be rotated(e.g., from front-facing position to side-facing position) issubstantially similar to the manner in which the arms are moved. At 40is shown a square shaft which is rotatively mounted in the flanges 41and 42,of:the.

base member. The head of the doll is formed witha tubular neck 43 inwhich one of the plugs 15 is .fitted, the hub 16 thereof receiving theendof thegshaft 40 substantially as shown in FIG. 2. A wire clampingring 19 may also be used to firmly attach'the neck of the doll to theinserted plug. The shaft 40 carries a drum 44, substantially similar tothe drum 20, the drum 44 carrying a disk 45 having the peripherallyhooked edge :40

brakingspring 46 having its end 47 adjustably connected 46. Encirclingthe upper part of the drum 44 is the to the post 48. The propelling ortorsion spring .49 has its other end 52 connected to an end 50 connectedto a lug 51 formed on the flange 42, and has selected one of the hooks46 on the disk 43- The drive spring may, by the selection of'the properhook on the disk 4'3,' be

set for the required torque to rotate the shaft 40Jat the desired speed.

The latchfor controlling the rotation of the shaft40 is indicated at 53.

It has one end pivoted at :54'tO a the edge 59 of the latch enters intoa notch;60 (FIG;

5) in the flange 42 and engages with aslot in the :hub 44, said slotbeing similar to that shown at 32 in the drum 20. The flange 41 has alug 61 which constitutes a stop member, and by its contact with one orthe other of the spokes 17 in the neck plug .15 it limits the. -ro-.t-ative movement of the head from a front-facing position to .aside-facing positionand vice versa.

From the foregoing, the operation of the animating.

device will be readily understood.' The tension in the.

ing the head 2 from its side-facing position to its frontfacingposition. 53 engages the notch in the drum 44 andholds the shaft 40 fromturning. When the lach 53 is manually de-v pressed by pressure exertedat the proper position on the body of the doll, the drum 44 will'bereleased from the latchand the shaft 40 will begin to rotate toward asideing, the braking spring will frictionally create a drag or When thisposition is reached,:the latch 65 torsional propelling spring 49 isstored by manually turn- I facing position of the head. While the shaft40 is turnretarding efiecton the drum 44and will materially slow downthe turning of the. dolls head, thus simulating the natural turning ofthe. head of a sleepy infant about to begin its slumber.

The;-shaft14 carrying the arms 3 operates'inza similar manner; Bybringing the arms 3 .down from raised position'to lowered position,energy will be stored in the tor-. sional or propelling spring '24 andwhen the lowered position of the arms is reached thelatoh30 will engagethe slot 32 in the drum and hold it from rotating. Upon exertion ofmanual pressure on that-part of. the body of the doll be-. hind whichthe .fingerpiece of the latch is, situated, the

latch will be depressedand will free. the drum 20. The shaft 14. willthen turntand raise. the .arms to elevated position. The frictionaleffect of t-he.braking spring 23. I on the drum 20 will be to slow'dowutheyrotation of the shaft 14 so that.the movement;of thearms 3 fromlowered to raised position will be slow and leisurely.

The arms and head thus; have their propelling springs. tensioned orcockedby simply. moving these parts of the doll from their'advancedpositions to retracted positions.

No winding keys, .leversr or other. parts' project from the body of thedoll. Moreover, the'deviceis solely springoperated, and is noiseless inoperation.

While the invention has been described in connection with a doll, itwillibe understood that'it is of: wider scope and provides a highlyuseful and versatile mechanism'that can control a variety of movablecomponents. For ex? ample, .it could be embodied in ;a.delayed-actiondomestic .electric light switch of the kind which employs a tiltablemercury switch 1 unit. Another illustrative field of use of the:invention wouldv be in .a telephone dialing mechanism;

In iwhatever environmentthe invention may be used, is operates silentlyand reliably, and can be readily designed and adjusted to impart.precisely the desiredretardation.- The several parts of the mechanismaremade of .non-corrodable material so. thathumidity, and even completesubmer-gcnce, will not ;cause damage toI the.

mechanism: The drum is composed .of stable wear-resistant plastic suchas acetal' resin plastic,.and thesprings of stainless steel or othernon-corrodable material. The braking effect is! dependent, of course,.upon the coefficient of friction,'and in each case the: braking spring,is formed with just-right diameter, and the correct selected number ofconvolutions, to impart; the desired retarding.

force. This can be regulated,ialso,. by ;varying the tension on thedriving spring.

Although only; a single embodiment of the invention has been described,it is therefore obvious that the invention is not restricted thereto,but is. broad- .enoughto cover all structures coming within the scope.of the .annexed claims.-

What is claimed is: a e

1. In an animated vtoy,;a component mounted for relative movement with.respect. to another relatively fixed component, a rotatableishaft formoving said first-named component, driving .means for imparting rotativemovement' to said shaft; throughia limitedarc, and a helical brakingspring having convolutions encircling the=shaft and. acting to restrainitfrictionally and thereby-retard said movement, the convolutionsextending in a direction in which the rotative movement of the. shaft inthe driven direction induces them to tighten.

2. :Ananimated toy as defined in claim 1, in which said first-namedcomponent=is mounted on said shaftfor slow relative movementwithrespectto another relatively fixed component, a rotatable shaft carryingsaid first-namedv component,: a coil. spring interposed between saidcom-.

ponents for imparting rotative movement to said shaft through a limitedarc, means for releasably latching said shaft in a position in whichsaid coil spring is tensioned, a drum on said shaft, and a brakingspring having convolutions encircling said drum and acting frictionallyto restrain the rotative movement of the shaft when said latch isreleased, the convolutions of said braking spring extending in adirection in which the rotative movement of the shaft in the drivendirection induces them to tighten against said drum.

5. An animated toy as defined in claim 4, in which said drum carries anotched disc, one end of the coil spring being anchored to saidrelatively fixed component, the other end being selectively engageablewith one of the notches in said disc so that the torque exerted by saidspring upon the shaft can be regulated.

6. In a doll, a hollow body, an appendage mounted for relative movementwith respect thereto, a rotatable shaft journaled in said body andcarrying said appendage, a coil spring encircling said shaft forimparting a limited rotative movement to it, said spring having one endanchored to said body and the other to said shaft, a drum on said shaft,and a helical braking spring having convolutions encircling said drumand acting to restrain it frictionally and thereby retard the shaftmovement, the convolutions extending in a direction in which therotative movement of the shaft in the driven direction induces them totighten against said drum.

7. A doll as defined in claim 6, including a means for releasablylatching said shaft in a position in which said coil spring istensioned, and a latch release in a location accessible from theexterior of said body.

8. A doll as defined in claim 7, in which said shaft extendstransversely across said body and said appendage is an arm of the doll.

9. A doll as defined in claim 7, in which said shaft extends in alongitudinal direction and said appendage is the head of the doll.

10. A doll as defined in claim 6 in which there are a plurality ofshafts of the character described, including a coil spring, drum, andhelical braking spring for each, the doll appendage carried by one ofsaid shafts being the head of the doll.

11. In a doll, a hollow body, a pair of arms mounted for relativemovement with respect thereto, a rotatable shaft journaled transverselyin said body and carrying said arms at its opposite ends, a coil springencircling said shaft for imparting to it a rotative movement whichswings said arms from a retracted position alongside the body to anextended position projecting from the body, said spring having one endanchored to said body and the other to said shaft, a means forreleasably latching said shaft in a position in which said coil springis tensioned, a latch release in a location accessible from the exteriorof said body, a drum on said shaft, and a helical braking spring havingconvolutions encircling said drum, said convolutions extending in adirection in which the rotative movement of the shaft in the drivendirection induces them to tighten against said drum while rotativemovement of the shaft in the opposite direction is not impeded, wherebythe shaft may be readily rotated by hand to the latched position,whereupon release of the latch causes the arms to move slowly from theirretracted to said extended position.

12. In a doll, a hollow body, a rotatable shaft journaled longitudinallyin said body and carrying the doll head at one end, a coil springencircling said shaft for imparting to it a rotative movement whichswings the doll head through an arc of movement between two positions,said spring having one end anchored to said body and the other to saidshaft, a means for releasably latching said shaft in one of said dollhead positions with said coil spring tensioned, a latch release in alocation accessible from the exterior of said body, a drum on saidshaft, and a helical braking spring having convolutions encircling saiddrum, said convolutions extending in a direction in which the rotativemovement of the shaft in the driven direction induces them to tightenagainst said 'drum while rotative movement of the shaft in the oppositedirection is not impeded, whereby the shaft may be readily rotated byhand to the latched position whereupon release of the latch causes thehead to move slowly from one of its positions to the other.

13. A toy doll provided with a head having a limited rotative movementfrom a front-facing position to a side facing position, a frame, a shaftmounted for restricted rotative movement therein, the head being mountedon said shaft, a drum on said shaft, a pair of helical springsencircling said drum, one of the springs being effective to rotate theshaft, the other spring acting to retard the driven rotation of theshaft and thereby effect a slow turning movement of the head, theconvolutions of said retarding spring extending in a direction in whichthe rotative movement of the shaft in the driven direction induces themto tighten.

14. A doll as defined in claim 13, including a releasable spring-biasedlatch, the drum having a notch for engagement by said latch to hold thedrum against rotation, and a disk carried by the drum and having hooksarranged around its periphery for selective engagement by one end of theshaft-rotating springs to regulate the torque exerted by said spring onthe shaft.

15. A doll having a movable head and movable arms, a rotatable shaftcarrying the head, a rotatable shaft carrying the arms, a drum carriedby each shaft, a pair of spring encircling each drum, one of the springson each shaft being a shaft-propelling spring, the second spring on eachdrum being a braking spring having convolutions extending in a directionin which the rotative movement of the shaft in the propelled directioninduces them to tighten whereby said second spring is effective toresist rotative movement of its drum and serving to slow down the shafton which the drum is mounted.

16. A doll as defined in claim 15, including a springbiasedmanually-releasable latch for each drum to hold the shafts againstrotation.

17. An animated doll comprising a doll body, containing a pair ofshafts, each of said shafts having a limited rotative movement, a drummounted on each shaft, each drum being encircled by two springs, one ofsaid springs being a driving spring for rotating its shaft through anarc of movement, the second spring on each drum being a contractiblebraking spring exerting a frictional influence on its drum to therebyresist the rotative movement of the shaft under the torque imposed on itby the driving spring to thereby materially slow down the movement ofeach shaft, the convolutions of said braking spring extending in adirection in which the rotative movement of the shaft in the drivendirection induces them to tighten, a dolls head carried by one of theshafts, and arms carried by the second shaft, the head and arms beingmoved slowly from one position to another by the slow rotative movementof said shafts.

18. An animated doll as defined in claim 17, wherein releasable latchesare provided for engagement with each drum to hold each shaft againstrotation, the shafts crossing one another at substantially right angles,the arms and head each containing an insert, and stop means engaging apart of each insert to restrict the rotative movements of the arms andhead.

19. A motion-delay mechanism comprising a shaft mounted for rotationwith respect to a relatively fixed component, a coil spring encirclingthe shaft and serving as a driving means for imparting rotative movementto the shaft through a limited arc, one end of said spring being fixedto said fixed component and the other end being fixed with respect tosaid shaft, and a helical braking spring encircling and frictionallyengaging said shaft and thereby acting to retard said movement, one endof said braking spring being fixed to said fixed component and 7 8: theother end being slidable with respect to said shaft as 2,942,377 6/1960Beebe 1 46119 the latter rotates, the eonvolutionsof said braking spring2,954,639 10/ 1960 Walss 46-120" extending in a direction in whichtherotative movement 3,009,468 I g ;185-37 0f the shaft in the drivendirection induces them to tighten. 3, 9,552 4/ 1962 Katz 46-120' t 53,128,575 4/1964 StanetZki 46120 References Cited by the ExaminerFOREIGN PATENTS v UNITED'STATES PATENTS 68,153 4/1893 Germany 1,805,1565/1931 w hn 46-419 7 2 9 43 9 1954 i f 1 1O Cl Przmary- Examiner.

2,911,063 11/ 1959 Wolfson 185-37 L. JJBOVASSO, Assistant Examiner.

6. IN A DOLL, A HOLLOW BODY, AN APPENDAGE MOUNTED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENTWITH RESPECT THERETO, A ROTATABLE SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID BODY ANDCARRYING APPENDAGE, A COIL SPRING ENCIRCLING SAID SHAFT FOR IMPARTING ALIMITED ROTATIVE MOVEMENT TO IT, SAID SPRING HAVING ONE END ANCHORED TOSAID BODY AND THE OTHER TO SAID SHAFT, A DRUM ON SAID SHAFT, AND AHELICAL BRAKING SPRING HAVING CONVOLUTIONS ENCIRCLING SAID DRUM ANDACTING TO RESTRAIN IT FRICTIONALLY AND THEREBY RETARD THE SHAFTMOVEMENT, THE CONVOLUTIONS EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION IN WHICH THEROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT IN THE DRIVEN DIRECTION INDUCES THEM TOTIGHTEN AGIANST SAID DRUM.